New Guinea Impatiens plant named Celebration Candy Pink

ABSTRACT

A distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named Celebration Candy Pink characterized by its iridescent, medium pink flower color with darker pink radiating lines and eye, large flowers, spreading and compact growth habit, dark green leaves and floriferous habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as New Guinea Impatiens andknown by the cultivar name Celebration Candy Pink. The new cultivar wasdeveloped by me through controlled breeding by crossing the cultivaridentified as Linda Vista selection #417 with the cultivar identified asLinda Vista selection #598. Both cultivars are selections of PanAmerican Seed, Linda Vista, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings taken at West Chicago, Ill.,has shown that the unique features of this New Guinea Impatiens arestabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics in combination distinguish the newImpatiens from other cultivar impatiens of this type known and used inthe floriculture industry.

1. Medium pink flower color with darker pink radiating lines and darkeye; iridescent.

2. Spreading and compact habit.

3. Floriferous habit.

4. Large flowers.

5. Non-variegated foliage.

6. Flowers are positioned above the foliage in uniform display.

The new cultivar is somewhat similar in flower color (although a deeperpink) to the cultivar Enterprise disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,868,with which Celebration Candy Pink can be compared. Reference is made toattached Chart A which compares characteristics of the respectivecultivars. To summarize, compared to Enterprise, Celebration Candy Pinkhas a more uniform and compact habit, flowers which are held above thefoliage in a uniform display, more freely flowering, non-variegatedfoliage, and larger flowers which are a deeper pink in color.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof this cultivar, showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new New Guinea Impatienscultivar based on plants produced under commercial practice in WestChicago, Ill., in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures of24° to 26° C. and night temperatures of 18° to 20° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Propagation:

A. Type cutting.--Terminal tip.

B. Time to initiate roots.--5 days at 24° C. summer; 7 days at 21° C.winter.

C. Rooting habit.--Fibrous, branching.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Freely branching, vigorous.

B. Habit of growth.--Spreading and upright but compact habit, 22 cm. by24 cm. asymmetrical.

C. Foliage.--1. Size: 10 to 12 cm. in length, 3.5 to 4.0 cm. wide. 2.Shape: Lanceolate, acuminate tip with attenuate base. 3. Texture:Smooth. 4. Margin: Finely serrated. 5. Color: Dark green with redvenation. Young foliage: Top side 147A; under side 59A. Mature foliage:Top side 147A; under side 59A. 6. Variegation: None. 7. Venation: 59A.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habits.--Freely flowering.

B. Natural flowering season.--Year-round in greenhouse environment.

C. Flower bud shape and color.--Conical, 59B.

D. Flower borne.--Above foliage, arising from leaf axils.

E. Quantity of flowers.--10 to 12 per branch.

F. Petals.--1. Shape: Cordate. 2. Color: Pink bi-color with dark eye(66C), iridescent. Top side when opening 65B with radiating lines of 66Bwhich mature to 66C; fading to 65D with 66C radiating lines. Under side65B with radiating lines 66C. 3. Number of petals: 5. 4. Size offlowers: 6 cm (width)×6 cm (length).

G. Reproductive organs.--1. Stamens: 5 in number. a. Anther shape:Oblong. b. Anther color: 11D. c. Pollen color: 10D. 2. Pistils: a.Stigma shape: Round. b. Stigma color: 59A. c. Style color: 59A. d. Ovarynumber: Superior, 5-celled. e. Ovary size: 1.5 cm (length). f. Ovarycolor: 59B.

Disease resistance: No fungal or bacterial problems observed.

    ______________________________________                                        CHART A                                                                                  Celebration                                                        Characteristic                                                                           Candy Pink     Enterprise                                          ______________________________________                                        Plant height                                                                             9 cm           14 cm                                               Plant diameter                                                                           22 cm. by 24 cm.;                                                                            22-26 cm                                                       asymmetrical                                                       Branches/plant                                                                           5              6                                                   Foliage color                                                                            147A, no       147A, variegated                                    Top side   variegation    with 154B                                           Flower color                                                                             65B with 66C   66D with faint                                      Top side   radiating lines                                                                              radiating lines                                                and eye                                                            Flower size                                                                              6 cm × 6 cm                                                                            5 cm × 4 cm                                   ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed Celebration Candy Pink, as illustrated and described.